Boat-detaching apparatus



(No Model.)

H. EjFOSTER.

BOAT DBTAGHING APPARATUS.'

1\I0.s12,714. .l T Patented Teb.24,1885.

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HICKMAN` E. FOSTER, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

BOAT-DETACHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part or' Letters Patent No. 312,714, `:latedFebruary 2%, 1885.

A pplicalion filed March 14, `18514. (No model.)

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Be it known that I, HICKMAN E. Fosrnaa citizen of the United States,residing at Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Boat-Detaching Appa-'same; Fig. 3, a transverse section of a boat,

having moditied form of detaching apparatus applied thereto; Fig. et, aview in side elevation of the eyebolt detached, Fig. 5, a view similarto Fig. 1 1, but with lock-bolt in section, to show the mode of doggingthe pivot-section of the eyebolt; Fig. 6, a view ot' the eyebolt in sideelevation, the pivot section being opened away from its seat. Fig. 7 isa front end elevation of the eyebolt, opened asin Fig. 6. Fig. S is aView ofthe lock-bolt detached.

My invention relates to that class of appliances by means of which aships boat maybe.

simultaneously cast loose both at stem and stern, from the davit-fallsby which the boat had been suspended and retained.

-The importance of effecting the release of the boat at the samejuncture at bow and stern is well understood, for if this be not donethere is not merely the risk of tipping, but, if a heavy sea is running,there is also imminent danger of the boat overturning or swamping. Somedetaching appliances are intended to operate automatically by thebuoyant iniluence of the water in contact with the boat; but there ischance of a premature release, as by the sudden lurch of the ship, or anunusually high sea, besides which, in calm weather it is frequentlydesired to hold the boat quietly in floating position Without castingoff.

My invention consists of certain improvements in boat detachingapparatus conveniently operated from the Waist of the boat in such wiseas to simultaneously release the bow andstern holds, said inventioncomprising, first, a modified construction ofthe usual eyebolt, so thatit may be adapted to perform the functions of a trip-hook; and, second,in combination with said lmodified eyebolts and their locking devices,of the tripping appliances for releasing the same from engagement withthe hooks, links, or tackle of the davit-falls.

' Conveniently fastened by any desired and secure means to the keelsonor other heavy boat-timber are the eyebolts A, one located 'at the sternand one at the bow of the boat.

These eyebolts, instead of being forged in one piece, as usual, consistof a stationary or main portion, l, extending from the shank and of apivot-section, 2, secured thereto by a pin-bolt, as at 3. Thepivot-section 2 has downwardly-curved extensions et, which embrace themain standard l, and at its front is formed into a solid head whichbears firmly and squarely upon the end of standard 1. At the lower endsof curved extensions t are semicircular notches or seats 5, which, whenthe pivot-section v2 is down in place upon the main standard, comedirectly above and serve as housings for the `tut-away lock-bolt 6. Thislock-bolt 6 has its bearing in a perforation through the shank of mainstandard l, and near its outer endsis cut away., as shown, so that inone position the bolt will rest inand against the seats 5, securelyclogging the section 2 from turning about its pivot-bolt 3, Whereas, ifsaid lock-bolt 6 be shifted er rotated in its bearing so that thecut-away of lock-bolt 6 shall be about Hush or even, then the curvedextensions 4, being no longer dogged,- will risc clearand away aboutpivot-pin 3, and the section 2 will open from .its seat against mainstandard l. To accomplish this shift in position of lockbolt 6, thereare crank-arms 7 set rigidly on the ends of said bolts, and looselyjointed by links 8 to a reciprocating bar, 9'. The reciprocating bar 9may be conveniently sustained at its ends in bearings formed by slots inthe shanks 10 of theeyebolts, said bar extending from stem to sternalong the bottom of the boat. About amidships a hand-lever, B, isplaced, fulcrumed, as at ll, in suitable eyebearings, and joinedpivotally by links 12 to the reciprocating bar 9. Then the hand-lever Bis down close against the bar 9, the parts IOO are in position shown bydrawings, Figs. 1, 4, 5, so that the lock-bolts 6 are turned in place toeffectually dog the extensions 4, and pivotsection 2 of the eyebolt isaccordingly held in closed position againstA the end of main standard l.It is plain that with pivot-section 2 thus securely looked the eyeboltscan, as usual, be employed to make fast to the hooks, links, Src., ofthe davit-falls. The boat being suspended by the falls, and it beingdesired to at once release the same both at bow and stern, the operatoramidships merely raises the handlever B, thereby reciprocating the bar 9and rotating lock-bolt 6 in its bearings so far that the notches 5 areno longer in engagement with the cut-away portions ofY said lock-bolt 6,at which juncture the pivot-sections 2, or rather their curvedextensions 4, being no longer dogged by the lock-bolt 6, are impelled torise about the pin 3 by the weight of the boat, and at once allow theretaining hooks or links of the davit-bloeks to slip away, thusreleasing the boat simultaneously at both bow and stern. The weighted orsolid head of pivot-section 2 overbalances the extensions 4 of saidsection, so that immediately the release of the boat has been effectedsaid section returns to its normal position against the main standard 1in readiness to be dogged by shifting hand-lever B again to its firstposition. By constructing the eyebolt in manner described it retains allof its recognized advantages over an open hook from oft of which a boatmay sometimes work, and has none of the defects of set-pins,trip-levers, Ste., which have been heretofore employed in boat-detachingapparatus. The clogging mechanism is secure from interference, and iseasily 'and quickly operated at the will of one man.

Many modifications of the device will suggest themselves to the skilledmechanic, and which are equally within the spirit ofthe invention. Thus,in lieu of the reciprocating shaft 9 there may be a rock-shaft, 15,running along the side of the boat from end 1o end, and having securedrigidly thereto the operating-arm 16 and crank-arms 17. These latterwill be joined, as shown, Fig. 2, to pivot-links 8, and these in turn tocrank-arms 7, precisely as already detailed. It will be noted that insuch form the eyebolts are turned at right angles to the rst positiondescribed, and open athwart the boat instead of lengthwise therewith, asbefore. The operation, however, and the structure of the eyelbolts A,remain unchanged, the only distinction being as to the special means bywhich the dogging and undogging of curved extensions 4 is effected-inone instance by a reciprocating, and in the other by a rotary, movementof the actuating-shaft. Since the curved extensions 4 rise to a circleabout pivot-bolt 3, it will be noted that eut-away portions ofdoggingbolt 6 are arranged with respect thereto in such wise as to offerno obstruction, the extensions swinging clear above said cut-aways.

The detaching devices may be operated quite as well from nearer the endsas amidships, and by any other than the special kind of hand-levershown.

Not limiting myself, therefore, to the precise details of structurehereinbefore set forth, and having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I f 1. Aneyebolt consisting in the combination, with the main standard, of thepivotseetion provided with a c urved extension and of a rotatinglock-bolt journaled in said main standard and directly engaging thecurved extension, to dog the pivot-section in closed position,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the main standard 1 and with the pivot-section2, having curved extension 4, of the rotating lock-bolt 6, journaled insaid main standard, and provided with a cut-away to engage the notch orseat 5 of said extension, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with main standards 1 and pivot-sections 2, havingcurved eXtensions 4, of the rotating lock-bolts 6, journaled in saidstandards and directly engaging said curved extensions, and intermediatemechanism, substantially as described, whereby said lock-bolts may beshifted in unison, substantially as set forth. y

4. The combination, with the eyebolts A, each consisting of a mainstandard, 1, and pivot-section 2, having curved extension 4, of therotating lock-bolts 6, engaging said curved extensions, the crank-arms7, and the reciprocating bar 9, joined pivotally thereto, substantiallyas described.

HIGKMAN E. FOSTER.

Vitnesses:

J AMES H. Fernen, GEO. P. FISHER, Jr.

IOC

